By winning the Ballon d’Or, Harry Kane has reached the pinnacle of his career so far. The FC Bayern striker was named the world’s best soccer player for the first time, beating out some notable competition. Now his former teammate Thomas Müller has also spoken out, offering the Englishman a special tribute.
Müller, who now plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps, knows Kane very well from their time together at Germany’s record-holding champions. In his newsletter, “Müller-Mail,” the 36-year-old congratulated the forward on his award, highlighting in particular his qualities beyond just scoring goals.
Müller had actually caused a bit of a surprise ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony. When asked about his personal favorites, the Bayern legend had, of all people, left Kane off the list. Instead, Michael Olise was among his preferred candidates.
Müller raves about Kane: “The perfect crowning achievement”
Following his former teammate’s triumph, however, Müller now had nothing but words of praise. “I think, in the end, everyone is really happy that Harry won this award,” the 2014 World Cup champion explained in his “Müller-Mail.”
The Englishman’s impressive statistics, in particular, made him more than deserving of the award. “I’m absolutely thrilled for him. 73 goals in 65 competitive matches. This award is the perfect crowning achievement both for his individual performances and for the team’s success at FC Bayern,” Müller emphasized.
For the longtime Bayern pro, however, it’s clear that Kane is defined by far more than just his extraordinary goal-scoring rate.
In Müller’s view, it is precisely the 33-year-old’s versatility that makes him one of the best forwards in the world.
“Harry never shies away from the dirty work.”
The former Bayern star’s comments come at an interesting time. Recently, there has been increasing discussion about Kane’s playing style. Among others , national team coach Jürgen Klopp and former national team player Mats Hummels have criticized the fact that the Englishman often drops deep into midfield, meaning he isn’t always present in the opponent’s penalty area.
Müller, on the other hand, views this versatility as a definite positive. “Harry hasn’t just delivered the numbers—he’s also a brilliant soccer player. His shooting technique, his ability to hold onto the ball, his commitment in one-on-one battles,” the 36-year-old raved.
Müller is particularly impressed by the striker’s willingness to take on even unpleasant tasks for his team. “And he never shies away from the dirty work, even though he knows he’s the team’s top striker.”
In doing so, the Bayern legend highlights precisely those qualities that have recently been the subject of discussions about Kane’s role in Munich’s offensive play.
While some experts would prefer to see the Englishman in the penalty area more often, Müller particularly values his ability to actively participate in build-up play and defensive work.
Kane is likely to continue playing a central role for FC Bayern in the coming years. Talks about an early contract extension through 2029 are already at an advanced stage.
With his Ballon d’Or victory, the forward has now also received the highest individual honor in world soccer.
For Müller, this honor is above all well-deserved recognition for a player who not only shines with goals but also makes his team better in a variety of ways.